Method for controlling the deformation of a surface of a sail of a sailing boat during a direction change maneuver

Abstract

A method for controlling the deformation of a surface of a sail of a sailing boat during a direction change maneuver, includes arranging at least one inflatable batten into a respective seat formed on a side surface of the sail, the at least one batten being inflated at a predetermined working pressure as to impart to said at least one inflatable batten a bending stiffness having, with no bending load, a predetermined value, carrying out a maneuver for changing the direction of the sailing boat, wherein in a first part of maneuver, the at least one batten is subjected to the action of an increasing bending load, and in a second part of the maneuver, the bending load ends its action on the at least one batten, during the maneuver the mechanical properties of the at least one batten being changed so that as the bending load increases in the first part of the maneuver, the value of the bending stiffness of the at least one batten decreases considerably, and as the action of the bending load ends in the second part of the maneuver, the bending stiffness of the at least one batten returns to the predetermined value.

1. A method for controlling deformation of a surface of a sail of a sailing boat during a direction change maneuver, comprising the steps of:
 arranging at least one inflatable batten into a respective seat obtained on a side surface of a sail of a sailing boat, said at least one inflatable batten being inflated at such a pressure as to impart to said at least one inflatable batten a bending stiffness having, with no bending load, a predetermined value; 
 carrying out a direction change maneuver of the sailing boat, wherein, in a first part of said maneuver, said at least one batten is subjected to an increasing bending load and in a second part of said maneuver said at least one batten is no longer subjected to said bending load, 
 wherein during said maneuver at least one mechanical property of said at least one batten is modified so that as said bending load increases in said first part of the maneuver, a value of the bending stiffness of said at least one batten decreases and as said bending load ends in said second part of the maneuver, the bending stiffness of said at least one batten returns to said predetermined value. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value of said bending stiffness decreases to between about 0.01% and about 50% of said predetermined value. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value of said bending stiffness decreases to between about 0.01% and about 30% of said predetermined value. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value of said bending stiffness decreases to between about 0.01% and about 10% of said predetermined value. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the value of said bending stiffness decreases to between about 0.01% and about 5% of said predetermined value. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein for a bending load higher than a predetermined threshold value, the bending stiffness of said at least one batten is substantially null. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined value of bending stiffness with no bending load is between about 10 Nm 2  and about 100 Nm 2 . 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said batten is inflated at an operating pressure between about 5 bar and about 50 bar. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said working pressure is between about 15 bar and about 50 bar for battens with an inner diameter between about 20 mm and about 35 mm. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said working pressure is between about 5 bar and about 30 bar for battens with a diameter between about 35 mm and about 70 mm. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one batten comprises a reinforcing structure comprising a plurality of reinforcing thread-like elements arranged crossed to one another. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing thread-like elements are arranged crossed at a predetermined angle between about 65° and about 115°. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing thread-like elements are arranged crossed at a predetermined angle between about 70° and about 110°. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing thread-like elements are arranged crossed at a predetermined angle between about 80° and about 100°. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing thread-like elements are arranged crossed at a predetermined substantially right angle. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one batten comprises a fluid impervious wrapping containing a fluid at a working pressure. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a reinforcing structure is associated with said fluid impervious wrapping. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said reinforcing structure is external to said fluid impervious wrapping. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reinforcing structure is closed at the ends of said batten.